Posted 3 Days Ago

Will he, or will he not? Riddle of Kalonzo oath

Nasa co-principal Kalonzo Musyoka addresses a press conference at Stoni Athi Resort in Machakos County on February 13, 2018. He said plans for his "swearing-in" are on course. PHOTO | DENNIS ONSONGO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

By PATRICK LANG'AT

By KENNEDY KIMANTHI

In Summary

Wiper deputy secretary-general Peter Mathuki said the oath was being discussed by the principals, who will communicate on the way forward.

Wiper deputy party leader Farah Maalim was not hopeful of the chances of Nasa surviving until the 2022 political season.

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Wiper Democratic Movement leader Kalonzo Musyoka is a man facing a dilemma: Damned if he does, damned if he does not.

The former vice-president is stuck between a disappointed opposition base that wanted him to follow National Super Alliance (Nasa) leader Raila Odinga and take an “oath” as the people’s deputy president, and his own conscience that has written off the event as unconstitutional and detrimental to his chances at the presidency in 2022.

Although Mr Musyoka has explained that his absence at the January 30 “swearing-in” was a strategy, he still remains largely a lone man in owning up to the “tactical decision”, accused of being a traitor, a coward and an untrusted friend.

That he now wants an audit of the Raila oath before he takes his own has given the clearest indication that the soft-spoken lawyer might not follow his boss to take the oath former Attorney-General Githu Muigai said is “high treason”, punishable by death.

“I have personally struggled at night over this matter. Kwa sababu watu wananitupia machafu wanasema (because people are calling me names) I’m a watermelon, but I am none of that.

"A time comes when you have to stand and explain. Once the people know we are not cowards and we play for the team there is nothing to worry about,” Mr Musyoka said of the oath he is to take after Mr Odinga following a meeting with women leaders in Athi River on Tuesday.

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ARRESTBut even his own assurance that he is not a coward, and that he will take the oath, has been impeded by some of the statements he makes, and he on Tuesday suggested that he had hesitated to take the oath because of a plot to arrest him and charge him with treason, a crime he says would have locked him out of the 2022 State House race.

“We need a serious analysis of the situation before I take oath. I could have been put under a difficult condition.

"They would have made it impossible for me to secure a bond, and even cancel my passport. They would have made sure I don’t vie in 2022,” Mr Musyoka said, betraying the cause of the “oath”.

On Wednesday, the Nation could not reach Mr Musyoka for a further comment on his chances of taking oath, or whether his terming it illegal had removed every chance of it happening.

2022 PRESIDENCYWiper deputy secretary-general Peter Mathuki said the “swearing-in” was “diversionary” and could keep Mr Musyoka away from focusing on his 2022 bid.

“Of course we know that Kalonzo will be sworn in (as the people’s deputy president after Mr Odinga). But what we really look forward to is for him to be sworn in as the president of Kenya in 2022,” Mr Mathuki told the Nation.